Rainfall needed to “offset exceptionally low levels” says CEWF

Head Lake in Haliburton Village (Photo taken by Phil McCabe, MyHaliburtonNow.com staff)

HALIBURTON, ON – Lake levels are in need of rain to avoid extreme drawdowns.

The Coalition of Equitable Waterflow(CEWF) said, in an e-blast sent out through the Haliburton Lake Cottagers Association, that many lakes are forecasted to drop 20 to 50 centimetres over the next two weeks.

That paired with the fact that rainfall has been intermittent at best, meant the Trent Severn Waterway(TSW) has had to pull more water from the reservoir lakes.

CEWF says that has, in some cases, resulted in below-average water levels. According to the Coalition, if the lack of rain and evaporation continues, the majority of the reservoir lakes could see below-average levels as well.

To avoid the need for an extreme drawdown, CEWF says “we need significant rainfall to offset the risk of exceptionally low levels by later in the season.”

According to CEWF, in both 2016 and 2018, the risk of extreme drawdown was there. In 2016 there was a heavy rainfall after August 16th, and 2018 had rain in late July.